Straight beam adjustable jaw clamp



April 20, 1954 .4- BEASI-EY 2,675,839

STRAIGHT BEAM ADJUSTABLE JAW CLAMP Filed March 26, 1952 Y INVENiI 0R;

' ATTD RN EYE Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATEfi TENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to clamps of the conventional C-type particularly as used for tool and die work, and in particular a clamp in which a jaw is slidably mounted in a holder with a pin slidably mounted in the holder and positioned to engage recesses in the shank of the jaw whereby the position of the jaw in relation to the holder is readily adjustable.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a clamp of the C-type in which the position of one jaw may be quickly set in relation to the other jaw or in relation to a holder.

In the conventional type of C-clamp a stud, threaded in one jaw of the clamp is positioned to coact with a gripping jaw and, particularly for tool and die work it is sometimes desirable to spread or retract the jaws. With the jaws provided on the arms of a solid body it is necessary to carry a series of clamps of different sizes. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a clamp that is quickly adjustable from one size to another so that a single clamp is provided which performs the same function of, and consequently replaces, a set of clamps.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for mounting the shank of a jaw .of a clamp in a holder forming a coacting jaw whereby the position of one jaw in relation to the other is readily adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp for tool and die work in which the shank of a jaw is retained in a slot of another jaw by a manually actuated frictionally held A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable quick set clamp which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a holder in the form of an arm having a screw threaded in the outer end with a slot extended through the inner end for retaining the shank of a jaw and a movable jaw having a shank with spaced openings in one edge thereof in which a pin frictionally held in the holder coacts with the opening in the shank of the jaw for retaining the jaw in adjusted position in relation to the holder.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the improved quick set clamp with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the clamp taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing the end of the holder through which the shank of the jaw extends and illustrating a method of releasing the locking pin from the holder.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the mounting end of the holder taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a detail showing an exploded view of the locking pin wherein the button and spring are extended therefrom.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan through the holder and shank of the jaw also taken on a plane corresponding with that of line 22 of Fig. 1 illustrating a modification wherein the jaw is provided with a tubular shank.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view showing the tubular shank illustrated in Fig. 6 extended through the holder and in which parts are broken away. v

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved quick set clamp of this invention includes a jaw Hi carried by a shank H with a holder having a base i2 with a slot l3 through which the shank ll extends and an arm M in the outer end of which a screw 15 is threaded, and the base I2 of the holder is provided with a pin it that is slida-bly mounted in an opening i? in the base of the holder, the pin being positioned whereby the end thereof registers with openings i8 in the shank H.

jaw is is provided with a gripping surface it which is aligned with the screw l5 and with the parts in the position shown the screw coacts with the jaw for retaining objects with one object clamped to another.

The screw 35, which is provided with a handle threaded in an opening 2| in the end of the ar '1 d and an additional opening 22 may be provided in the arm to reduce the weight thereof.

The pin it is slidably mounted in the opening the base If and the pin, which is provided with a head 23 is secured in the base by a button positioned in an opening 25 in the base and adapted to extend into a slot 26 in the pin into which the button is urged by a spring 21. The pin it is also provided with an opening 28 that is positioned to register with an opening 29 in the of the holder with the pin 56 drawn outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein h the parts in this position a pin 30 may be inserted into the opening 28 through the opening is so that the button 213 may be held against the spring 27 to permit the pin it to be Withdrawn.

The openings I8 are spaced through the intermediate part of the shank ii of the jaw ill and with the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1 the pin Ii: extends into one of the openings 18 for locking the jaw it in adjusted position. The extended end of the shank ii may be provided with an opening 35 for positioning the clamp on a hanger or the like.

In the design illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the jaw is provided with a tubular shank 32 and spaced openings 33' are provided in one side of the shank to correspond with the openings It! of the shank i i. The tubular shank 32 is provided with a keyway 323 and when the shank 32 is positioned in the shank opening in the base 35 of a holder 35 a key 31' is positioned in the keyway 32B and in a slot 33 in the base. In this design the shank of the jaw is retained in adjusted positions by a pin 39, engaging one of the spaced openings 33. The pin 38 is similar to the pin and the pin 38 is secured in the base of the holder by a button positioned in a recess 4! and urged inwardly by a spring 2. The button 4S extends into a slot in the pin es and an opening is, similar to the opening 28 is positioned to register with an opening 35 by which the button as may be forced out of the slot with a pin, such as the pin 3G. The pin 32 is also provided with a head 45 similar to the head or handle 2-3 of the pin it.

With the parts arranged in this manner the locking pin may readily be withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 3 whereby the shank of the movable jaw is adapted to be moved through the slot in the base of the holder so that the distance of the jaw from the end of the screw it is readily adjustable. When the jaw is in the position desired the locking pin is moved inwardly thereby locking the jaw in the holder.

By this means the end of the screw 15 may be positioned against an object, the jaw it moved through the holder until it engages the opposite side of the object, and after inserting the pin it in one of the openings it the screw 55 is turned by hand to positively clamp the object against the jaw.

It will be understood that modifications may 631 tended through the said opening therein, -Jn justing screw threaded in an extended end of the arm and positioned to ooact with the a locking pin slidably mounted the the holder and positioned to extend. into open in said shank, means securing said pin o tive position in the holder, the means for re ing the pin in operative position the holder comprises a spring actuated button positioned in an opening the holder and to extend into an elongated slot in one side the pin. holder having an opening the 'gnnent with said button and on the of said pin, said pin having an opening of em iiameter than said last named holder positionable to register 11. m d opening of the holder that the button may be moved from it a rod extended through the openings of 1e .61; and pin and engaging one end of the but. order to remove the pin completely from holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 5,653 Porter Nov. 11, 1573 71,440 Barnes Nov. 26, 1867 99,326 Bradley 15, 1870 649,616 Prickett May 15, iSilO 970,568 Starrett Sept. i919 1.364.,600 Woods Jan. 4:, 1921 1,397,214 Hose Nov, 15, 1921 1,452,753 Otto et a1 Apr. 2 1, 1,790,238 Klein Jan. 27, 1931 2,474,360 Jimerson June 28, 194?) 

